Hydraulic steering apparatus for outboard motorboats



June 7, 1960 c. E. HAMMOCK, SR 2,939,417

HYDRAULIC STEERING APPARATUS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS Filed Sept. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 hhhh INVENTOR. me; E. HAM/1406K, s2.

Jun 7, 1 0 c. E. HAMMOCK, SR 2,939,417-

HYDRAULIC STEERING APPARATUS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS Filed Sept. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. one; 5, #4404005, .98,

United States PatentO HYDRAULIC STEERINGAPPARATUS non 1 EOUTBOARD oronuoxrs This invention relates to a steering assembly, and more particularly, the invention pertains to remote control steering mechanism for an outboard motorboat.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide remotely controlled hydraulic means for effecting the steering of an outboard motorboat.

Another object of this invention is to provide a remote controlled steering apparatus which does not require the utilization of drums, cables, pulleys and chains and wherein the steering apparatus is substantially silent in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a remote control hydraulic steering device for boats employing outboard motors, the hydraulicdevice being adapted for connection with conventional outboard motors without requiring any change in'the conventional steering means therefor.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a remote controlled hydraulic steering device for outboard motorboats, the device being non-complexin construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in service.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with-the annexed drawings, in which:

'Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventional outboard motor equipped with hydraulic means for effecting pivotal movement thereof in order to change the steering course of a motorboat on which the motor is mounted, certain conventional parts of the motor being omitted in the interest of clarity of illustration;

' Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the outboard motor together with the hydraulic steering means illustrated in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a top plan view of the remote control means for actuating the hydraulically operated steering means illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is. a rear elevational view of the remote control means shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail cross-sectional view of the remote control means takensubs'tantially on the vertical plane of line 55 of Figure 4, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the hydraulic steering system.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a conventional motorboat having a hull 12 including an aft transom wall 14. a

Reference numeral 16 denotes a conventional outboard motor having a propeller (not shown) the motor being pivotally 'connectedon the arm 18 of a conventional inverted substantially .U-shaped clamp 20 having a bight 22 and a second bifurcated arm 24. As is seen in Figures 1 and 2, the clamp 20 engages around the transom 14 and is clamped thereagainst by means of the clamping shafts 28 having manually 2,939,417 Patented June 7, 1960 '2 operable handles 30 connected to the other ends thereofvThe. motor 16 is also provided with'the usual motor-starting means 32, combined throttle and steering lever 34 and fuel control valve 36. The above described apparatus is conventional and has been buttbriefiy described in order to lend an environment for this invention which is delineated in the following description. I The bifurcated arm 24 is provided with suitable normally horizontal openings 38 to receive therethrough an elongated cylindrical shaft 40 having opposed threaded ends. Thrust washers 42 are mounted on the shaft 40 proximate the remote sides of the bifurcated arm 24.

Reference. numeral 44 designates a hanger bracket which includes an elongated substantially rectangular flat lever arm 46 having an enlarged boss 48 projecting laterally from an end thereof, the boss 48 having a longitudinal bore 50 extending therethrough substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lever 46. As is seen in 'Figure 1 of the drawings, one end of the shaft 40 is received within the bore 50 to pivotally connect the lever 46 thereto. Lock nut 52 and washer 54 prevent accidental or'inadvertent displacement of the boss 48 relative to its associated end of the shaft 40.

Reference numeral 56denotes a hanger bracket identically'constructed with respect to the hanger bracket 44,

and includes an elongated substantially rectangular lever arm 58 having an enlarged boss 60 projecting laterally from an end thereof, the boss 60 having a longitudinal bore 62 extending therethrough substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lever 58. As is seen in Figure l of the drawings, the other end of the shaft 40 is received within the bore 62 to pivotally connect the lever 58 thereto. Lock-nut 64 and washer 66 prevent accidental orinadvertent displacement of the boss 60 with respect to its associated end of the shaft 40.

jaws 26 carried on one of the ends of the shafts 28 7 which are threaded through the bifurcated arm 24, the

A pair of elongated substantially hollow cylindrical members. 68,70 are provided, the cylindrical members having a pair of opposed open and closed ends. The closed ends terminate in clevises 72, 74, respectively, pivotally connected by pins 76, 7-8 to the remotely positioned ends of the lever arms 46, 58, respectively.

Each'of the cylindrical members 68, 70 are provided with pistons (not shown) adapted for reciprocation therein and to which is connected one end of a pair of piston rods and 82, respectively. The other ends of the piston rods 80, 82 terminate in clevises 8'4, 86 pivotally connected at 88, 90 to a pair of substantially triangular gusset plates 92, '94, respectively, adjacent the apices thereof.

Reference numeral 96 designates a motor connecting bracket having a substantially U-shaped configuration and including a bight 98 from the ends of which project a pair of inwardly converging side arms 100, 102, the latter being superimposed on the marginal edges of the base-portions ofthe gusset plates 92, 94, respectively, and are fixedly secured thereto as by rivets 104. The outer ends of the arms 100, 102 are fixedly secured to the upper end of the propeller drive shaft housing 106 on opposite sides thereof.

"As will be described below, the piston rods 80, 82 reciprocate simultaneously in opposite directions to effect the pivotal movement of the motor 16 (and consequently of the propeller) under the influence of a remote control system.

Reference numeral 106 indicates a vertically elongated substantially rectangular standard for supporting the remote control .apparatus. The standard' l06 has the lower end thereof fixedly secured by conventional means (not shown) to the boat flooring 108 at a point remotely disposed with respect to the transom 14. Y a

A ub t n y u r ch gnel member 10, has t e bight portion 110 thereof fixedly secured to one side of the standard 106. The side arms 112, 114 project laterally away from the bight 110 in vertically spaced and substantially parallel relation to serve as guide means for a pair of vertically spaced elongated substantially rectangular rack gears 116, 118. A gear .120 is interposed between and is in mesh with the rack gears 116, 118 so that rotation of the gear 120 causes the rack gears 116, 118 to reciprocate, substantially simultaneously, in opposite directions.

One end of a shaft 122 is fixedly secured to the gear 129 for rotation therewith and the other end thereof projects through an aperture 124 formed in the bight 110, the aperture 124 being aligned with an opening 126 formed in the standard 106 and through which the other end of the shaft 122 also projects.

A substantially rectangular plate 128 is bolted at 130 to the standard 106 and has bolted thereto at 132 a second substantially rectangular plate 134. These last named plates are provided with aligned openings through which the other end of the shaft 122 also extends.

A steering wheel 136 is secured to the other end of the shaft 122 by conventional means 138 with the hub 140 thereof bearing against the plate 134.

The side arm 112, at its opposed ends, is integrally connected with a pair of upright flanges 142, 144 between which is secured and extends a cylindrical member 146 having a pair of opposed open and closed ends, and a piston (not shown) mounted for reciprocation therein. One end of a piston rod 148 is affixed to the piston mounted in the cylindrical member 146 and the other end thereof projects through its open end. As is seen in Figure 4, a tie plate 150 rigidly connects the outer or other end of the piston rod 148 with one end of the rack gear 116.

In a similar manner, a-cylindrical member 152 having a pair of opposed open and closed ends is supported on and extends between a pair of flanges 154, 156 depending from the opposite ends of the side arm 114. 1 The cylindrical member 152 has mounted for reciprocation therein a piston (not shown). One end of a piston rod 158 is afiixed to the last mentioned piston and the other end thereof projects through the open end of the cylindrical member 152. As shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, a

tie plate 160 rigidly connects the outer or other end of the piston rod 158 with the rack gear 118.

Reference numeral 162 indicates a substantially hollow cylindrical oil tank having a refill cap 164 at the upper end thereof. A first conduit 166 is in open communication with the tank 162 and depends from its lower end for connection with one endo-f an elbow connector 168 having its other end connected with one end of a second conduit 170. The other end of the second conduit 170 is connected to the inlet port of a T- connector 172 having one of its outlet ports connected through third and fourth conduits .174, 176 with the inlet side of a one-way check valve 178. The outlet side of the check valve 17 8 communicates through a fifth conduit 180 with the interior of the cylindrical member 146 between its piston (not shown) and the aforementioned closed end thereof. The other of the outlet ports of the T-connector 172 is connected through sixth and seventh conduits 182, 184 with the inlet sideof a one-way check valve 186. The outlet side of the check valve 186 communicates through an eighth conduit 188 with the interior of the cylindrical member 152 between its piston (-not shown) and its aforementioned closed end.

One end of a conduit 190 is in communication with the cylindrical member 146 between its closed end and its piston, and the other end thereof connects with one end of a flexible tubing 132 in communication at its other end with the interior of the cylindrical member 68 between its closed end and piston.

In a similar manner, one end of, a conduit 1% is in communication with the cylindrical member 152 between its closed end and its piston, and the other end thereof connects with one end of a flexible tubing 196 which communicates at its other end with the interior of the cylindrical member 70 between its closed end and piston.

The flexible tubing 192, 196 are arranged around the hull 12 of the motorboat in any manner so as to be out of the path of movement of passengers carried therein.

With 'the elements of the above described hydraulic steering apparatus connected and assembled in the positions thereof illustrated in the "drawings, and assuming that the motor 16 is operating and the propeller connected thereto is rotating, the motorboat 10 steers on a straight course. If, however, due to tides, winds, waves, currents or other factors, the bow of the boat 10 veers to the starboard, the operator rotates the steering wheel 136 in a counterclockwise direction to effect rotation of the shaft 122. .As the shaft 122 turns the gear is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, and causes the rack gear 114 to shift to the left. Since the rack gear is connected by the tie plate the piston rod 158 also moves to the left and in so moving causes the piston connected thereto to exert a force on oil in the cylindrical member 152 between its piston and its closed end. This oil is forced outwardly through the conduits 194, 196 and enters the cylindrical member 70 between its piston and closed end. In so entering the cylindrical member 70 this displaced oil exerts a pressure on its piston causing it to move in a direction away from its closed end. This movement effects extension of the piston rod 82 which causes the motor 16 to turn in aclockwise direction, reference being made to Figure 6 of the drawings.

It will be understood that as the above operations take place, the rack gear 116 has been shifted to the tight, as viewed in Figure 4, by the gear 120. Hence the rack gear 116 is connected with the piston rod 148 through the tie plate 150, the pistonrod 148 moves in the same direction and shifts the piston connected thereto away from the closed end ofthe cylindrical member 146 and increases the cavity therebetween.

Now, as the motor 16 pivots in a clockwise direction as described above, the piston rod 80 is moved inwardly into the cylindrical member 68 and the piston connected thereto exerts a force on the oil disposed between it and the closed end thereof to affect its displacement through the conduits 192,; 194 for introductioninto the cylindrical member 146 between its piston and closed end.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in thisart that the above described operations are effective to correct a steering course or to turn the boat 10 to port. It will also be understood that a turn to the starboard can be effected by rotating the steering wheel 136 in a clockwise direction to cause the component elements of the apparatus described above to operate reversely'.

The one-way check valves 178, 186 close, of course, whenever a compressive force is exerted on the oil within their respective associated cylindrical members 146, 152.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it is to be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

Remotely con-trolled hydraulically operated steering apparatus for a boat powered by an outboard motor having a propeller connected thereto and pivotally mounted on the transom, a first hydraulic system including a pair of elongated substantially hollow cylindrical members each having a pair of opposed open and closed ends and a piston mounted for reciprocation within each of said cylindrical members, a first conduit communicating with said pair of cylindrical members between their said closed ends and their said pistons, a second hydraulic system including a second pair of elongated substantially hollow cylindrical members each having a pair of opposed open and closed ends and a piston mounted for reciprocation therein, a second conduit communicating with said second pair of cylindrical members between their said closed ends and their said pistons, a piston rod fixedly secured to each of said pistons and projecting through said open end of said cylindrical member associated therewith, means pivotally connecting said closed ends of one of said cylindrical members of said first and second systems on said transom, means pivotally connecting said piston rods of said last named cylindrical members to opposite sides of said motor, an upright standard remotely disposed relative to said transom, a substantially U-shaped channel member having its bight secured to said standard and having side arms projecting laterally from opposed sides thereof, a rack gear extending along and slidably engaging each of said side arms, a shaft extending through said standard and said bight, a gear mounted on one end of said shaft and meshing with said rack gears, a steering wheel mounted on the other end of said shaft, and a tie plate connecting one pair of adjacent ends of said rack gears with the piston rods of the other cylindrical members of said first and second hydraulic systems.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain June 9, 1921 

